J.K. Rowling Is Pleading With Fans Not To Buy Handwritten Harry Potter Story That Was Stolen

This story reads like the start of an adventure novel---one about crimes more than magic. J.K. Rowling, the world's first billionaire author, is begging fans of her Harry Potter books not to purchase a stolen copy of a rare prequel to her beloved series. Apparently, Rowling wrote the prequel by hand on a piece of cardstock years ago, and somebody bought it fair and square to support charities. Unfortunately, that person got robbed last month, and now the authorities are searching for the highly valuable item. The author took to social media to urge her fans and followers to do the right thing in this situation, tweeting,

J.K. Rowling sent the tweet to her millions of followers on Twitter. The 51-year-old author wrote the short prequel to the Harry Potter series and sold it back in 2008 to raise money for the association of writers English Pen and the charitable organization Dyslexia Action. The story appeared on both sides of an A5, 6-by-8-inch postcard, and the total length of the story was about 800 words. Rowling sold the story to investment banker Hira Digpal, who bought it for around $32,000. The story appeared later that year in a published book. Digpal told reporters he planned to resell the postcard with the story and donate the additional funds to charity; however, he now fears the special item could wind up selling on the black market.

According to the West Midlands Police, the story was stolen in a burglary in Kings Heath, England, where thieves also managed to steal jewelry. The theft occurred sometime between April 13 and 24. The officer working on the case suggests real Harry Potter fans will be the most likely people to buy the one-of-a-kind piece. He urges anyone with information about the crime, including anyone who is offered a chance to purchase the story, to contact the West Midlands Police or Crimestopper anonymously. The officials tried to spread the message with photos and tweets on Twitter, writing,

Apparently, the stolen story tells a tale involving Harry Potter's father, James Potter, and godfather, Sirius Black, getting into mischief three years before the birth of "the boy who lived." There is an action-packed chase scene in which muggle police officers stop Harry Potter's father and his buddy, but the friends narrowly escape---on broomsticks. (How else, right?)

Here's hoping the authorities obtain the postcard and reunite it with its rightful owner. In fact, if they find it, they probably should put it in a museum.